War on Christian Principles.

ONE of the conditions of the treaty with Mexico, it is said, is that any future war which may break out between the two countries shall be conducted on Christian principles. Now we all know that this is an age of progress, and that all sorts of improvements are constantly taking place in all sorts of matters; but war on Christian principles is certainly the latest, and, if it be carried out, we think it will prove the greatest of them all.

Just imagine it; we think we can see the two armies drawn out in battle array. A fair field is before them; the ranks are formed, the positions are taken, the great guns are unlimbered. Gen. Scott is just about to give the order to fire, when an aid comes up and respectfully reminds him that "the war is to be conducted on Christian principles," and that it will not do to fire. Very true, very true," says the Commander-in-Chief, "but what are they? I have read Vauban, and Scheiter, and Turenne, and Coehorn. I have read the lives of the old conquerors, and have studied the campaigns of the greatest soldiers, but I never happened to come across these principles in any work upon the military art. Do you know anything about it, Colonel ?"

"No."

"Nor you, Major ?"

"Nor I neither."

"I really don't know how to begin; I suppose it would not do to shoot. Suppose we send for the Chaplain."

The Chaplain arrives-" Do you know anything about this fighting on Christian principles ?"

"Oh, yes; it is the easiest thing in the world."

"Where are the books ?"

"Here ;" and the Chaplain takes out the Bible.

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Really," says the General, "we ought to have thought of this before. It is a bad time to commence the study of tactics when the enemy is right before us; but I

suppose we are bound by the treaty. What is the first thing, Mr. Chaplain ?” "Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

"But these are not neighbours. They are Mexicans."

"The same book tells us, a little further on, that the opportunity to do good to a man makes him our neighbour." "Will you go on, Mr. Chaplain ?”

Pray

"Love your enemies. Do good to them that hate you. for them that despitefully use you. If a man smite you on one cheek, turn to him the other."

“But while we are praying for the Mexicans they will be firing into us."

"No; they are bound by the treaty also. It works both ways."

"Then what is the use of our arms?"

"This is all provided for in the same book. Beat your swords into ploughshares and your spears into pruning hooks." "Then I don't see as there is anything for us to do here." "Nothing unless you send over and ask Santa Anna if he needs anything in the way of medicines, or provisions, or clothing. I rather think the treaty requires this of us. And I don't know but we ought to send them a few school-masters, for I understand that they are shockingly ignorant people."

"But how do you ever know which party conquers in this fighting on Christian principles ?"

Both sides conquer, and

"That is the great beauty of it. there are never any killed and wounded."

EXAMPLE has a secret magnetic virtue like the load-stone -it attracts by a power of which we can give no account.

Little Mary.

I'm bidden, little Mary

To write verses unto thee;
I'd fain obey the bidding,

If it rested but with me:
But the mistreses I'm bound to,
Nine ladies hard to please,
Of all their stores poetic,

So closely keep the keys,

It's only now and then,

By good luck, as one may say, A couplet or a rhyme or two, Falls fairly in my way.

Fruit forced is never half so sweet, As that comes quite in season, But some folks must be satisfied With rhyme in spite of reason: So muses, now befriend me,

Albeit of help so chary,

To string the pearls of Poesy,
For dearest little Mary.

And yet ye Pagan Damsels,
Not over fond am I,

To invoke your haughty favours
Your fount of Castaly;
I've sipped a purer fountain,
I've decked a holier shrine,
I own a mightier mistress,

Oh Nature! thou art mine.

LITTLE MARY.

And only to that well-head,
Sweet Mary I'll resort,

For just an artless verse or two,
A simple strain and short,
Befitting well a pilgrim
Way-worn with early strife,
To offer thee, young traveller,
In the morning track of life.

There's many a one will tell thee
"Tis all with roses gay-
There's many a one will tell thee
'Tis thorny all the way;
Deceivers are they, every one
Dear child who thus pretend,
God's ways are not unequal,

Make Him thy trusted friend:
And many a path of pleasantness,
He'll clear away for thee,
However dark and intricate
The labyrinth may be!

343

344

STANZAS.

And now my little Mary,
If better things remain
Unheeded in my blindness,
Unnoticed in my strain,
I'll sum them up succinctly;

In "English undefiled,"
My mother tongue's best benison,
"God bless thee," precious child.—

Stanzas.

EACH hour as it fleets, dooms a joy to decay,—
From the chaplet of hope steals a blossom away,
Throws a shade o'er the lustre of life's fairy scene,
And leaves but the thorn, where the rose-buds had been.

It sullies a link in affection's young chain,

Which once slightly tarnished, ne'er sparkles again;

Spoils the sheaves which the heart in its summer would bind To guard 'gainst a leafless and bleak Autumn wind.

But a region there is, where the buds never die—
Where the sun meets no cloud in his path through the sky:
Where the rose-wreath of joy is immortal in bloom,
And sheds on the gale a celestial perfume.

Where ethereal melody steals through the soul,
And the full tide of rapture is free from control-
Oh we've nothing to do in a bleak world like this,
But to toil for a home in this haven of bliss!

E. P. K.